Cyber security teams at Logicalis worked around the clock in the days before WannaCry to prevent clients becoming victims of the ransomware attack.

Logicalis cyber security experts picked up on WannaCry through their global monitoring system, in its early stages, and were able to implement fixes for customers to prevent their systems being hijacked by cybercriminals.

Over 600,000 companies and organisations in 170 countries around the world were affected by WannaCry, including at least 48 NHS Trusts in England. Thanks to early warning from Logicalis, none of their 400 plus local and international clients fell prey to the worm, which encrypted files and held organisations’ data hostage.

Ricky Magalhaes, Head of Cyber Security, Logicalis, said: “We pulled in all the teams and worked around the clock in the days before WannaCry to ensure clients’ systems were ready for it. Our guys designed a way for customers to mitigate the effects and when the ransomware struck, we had our customers protected fully within three hours.

“We look after over 400 clients so there were a lot of systems to get through but it meant that when WannaCry started spreading, our clients were not vulnerable to the cyber attack.”

Two years ago Logicalis stepped up ransomware cyber security plans with clients, putting together an anti-ransomware strategy to make systems less vulnerable to cyber attacks, and with adequate back up facilities in case the worst happened.

Ricky said: “At the time some clients thought we were overreacting but we were being cautious, and since then there have been so many high profile cyber attacks that businesses are much more aware of the need to take precautions and protect themselves.

“I think the collective efforts we have been putting in over the past few years have played a big role in preventing clients becoming victims of WannaCry when so many other, similar companies and organisations were struck by it.”

The nature of cyber attacks changes rapidly, so once a system is of the right standard, you need to keep it up to date. Constant monitoring of systems, and consistent training of staff, through programmes such as through KnowBe4, are also vital.

Some malware enters systems though phishing – where criminals send staff credible sounding emails containing the ransomware – which means staff remain an important part of any company security programme.